Updated at 8.20pm
A NUMBER OF dogs have been found dumped in Co Kilkenny in horrific conditions.
14 animals were discovered in a wooded area near Callan while one animal is terrified and has so far evaded rescue.
The dogs, all of the lurcher breed, are being cared for at the Deise Animal Sanctuary in Ballymacarbry, Co Waterford having been delivered to the sanctuary by Kilkenny SPCA.
“What we saw brought tears to our eyes – crawling with fleas, bellies full of worms, bones jutting out, pressure sores and some very sickly pups,” the sanctuary said on Facebook.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie Patricia Edwards from Deise said the find is all too common at this time of year.
“It’s such a common incident, especially now that it’s holiday season. It’s round now that families realise they can’t cope with a pet and things like this end up happening,” she said.
These particular dogs are hunting dogs, and it’s not yet hunting season, that’s why this has happened. Lurchers are probably the most abused dogs in Ireland at present.
If it was September these animals wouldn’t have been dumped.
Edwards said similar acts have been perpetrated before, and by the same person in her opinion.
“These kind of dumpings are depressingly common,” she said
I think they’ll be caught though – there’s 14 animals here – someone will recognise them and where they have come from.
As for the animals themselves, Edwards says it will be touch and go.
They’re very, very emaciated, particularly the mother of the pups. And four of the pups are in terrible condition also.
The public have been brilliant though and helping as much as they can. Right now we just need to keep them as warm as possible.
It’s tragic – these animals make wonderful pets. There’s no need for it.
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